While other people go to Disneyland, ride Space Mountain and fill themselves up with cotton candy and childhood whimsy, all the Flames do in Anaheim is lose. The last time the Calgary Flames won a hockey game in Anaheim was January 19, 2004. That was before the last two NHL lockouts.

The Flames roster included Roman Turek, Jamie McLennan, Denis Gauthier, Jordan Leopold, Chuck Kobasew, Shean Donovan, Chris Clark, Matthew Lombardi, Oleg Saprykin, Lynn Loyns, Andrew Ference, Craig Conroy, Martin Gelinas, Josh Green, Steven Reinprecht, Robyn Regehr, Toni Lydman, Krzysztof Oliwa, Dean McAmmond and Rhett Warrener. Conroy had a four-point night and Gelinas had the game-winning goal in a 5-1 rout. Both are currently part of the Flames hockey operations department and both, oddly, will be in the building for the Flames' return to the house of horrors. The only Flames still around from that era are Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla, who by sheer coincidence both missed that game due to injury.

Since January 2004, the Flames have lost 15 straight regular season visits to Anaheim's Honda Center, going 0-10-5 in the process. In a more encouraging note, the Flames have gone 0-3-5 over the last four seasons in Anaheim, so at least they're getting points. But they'd much rather get two points, particularly in a season where they're trying to stay above that pesky .500 mark.

Can the Flames change the House of Mouse from a house of horrors into a house of victory? Find out tonight at 8:30pm MT on Sportsnet 960 The Fan and Sportsnet West.

THE LINE-UP

The Flames have quietly been on a bit of a tear of late, going 4-1-1 in their last six and picking up wins over Minnesota, Phoenix, Vancouver and San Jose. That's got to give them some confidence. More encouragingly, the Flames have scored four or more goals in four of their last five games – the lone exception being their 2-1 overtime loss against Minnesota. Now that Miikka Kiprusoff is back in the saddle, the message is likely “if you can score four, you should always win.”

Jarome Iginla has six goals in his last five games. The Flames' PK has only allowed two goals in the last nine games (or two in the last 30 kills), while the PP has produced four goals in the same time-span. If that continues, the team will be in good shape.

Given Calgary's success last game it's not likely that they'll change up their line substantially. Here's how things ended last game.

Glencross – Stajan - Stempniak

Hudler – Cervenka – Iginla

Tanguay – Cammalleri - Comeau

Baertschi – Jackman - McGrattan

Giordano – Bouwmeester

Wideman – Butler

Brodie – Smith

Kiprusoff

The obvious change may come on the fourth line, as Comeau may stay on the third line but that leaves the fourth without an actual centre. So expect somebody to rotate out so that Steve Begin can slot back in. The top two lines both performed rather well against San Jose, while Chris Butler ate up a ton of minutes.

THE OPPOSITION

The Ducks are rolling, with just three regulation losses all season and a 3-0-2 record in their last five games. Oddly, their last three games have been against the Phoenix Coyotes. The club is second only to those pesky Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference standings.

Here's how their lines were last game.

Getzlaf – Perry - Ryan

Winnik – Koivu – Cogliano

Beleskey – Bonino – Selanne

McMillan – Holland - Etem

Fowler – Lydman

Beauchemin - Souray

Sbisa - Lovejoy

Fasth

I'd expect Victor Fasth to start, but that's merely a guess as he's their number-one nowadays. That Ducks top line is quite good (combining for 66 points so far), while their second line is also pretty solid. Their fourth line has potential, which is a polite way of saying they're not great yet but might be at some point down the road. Also, Ryan Getzlaf was re-signed for 8 years today, so expect him to be their first line center until the next lock-out.

The last time the Flames faced the Ducks, Ben Lovejoy was with the Penguins. His addition fills out their defense corps a bit and makes them a bit harder to play against. Of course, the thing that makes them tough to play against is the fact that the team has bought into Bruce Boudreau's systems and are playing a strong team game.

SUM IT UP

The Ducks are quite good and have already beaten Calgary this year. But with the Flames full of piss and vinegar with a handful of recent wins and the return of Miikka Kiprusoff, there may be no better time than the present for Calgary to exorcise some Disneyland demons.

After all, the losing streak in the O.C. has to end eventually, right? Right?

Ryan Pike has covered the Calgary Flames since 2010. A Calgary native who writes for FlamesNation and The Hockey Writers, he's often at Flames games and practices, as well as spotted in the background of scrums and press conferences asking about Sven Baertschi.

That Getlaff contract is nuts!!!! 8.25mill cap hit for 8 years. That is going to cripple Anaheim. So Perry is probably going to want 9.0 mill for 8 years seeing he was an MVP & his linemate got 8.25mill. How many years will it take for that contract to become an albatross? No thanks, let the Oilers or Canucks sign Perry for that kind of money. To me, 8 year deal should have gotten a discount to at least 6.0mill per. At least you have a chance to sign other players that might help you get to a Cup final.

That Getlaff contract is nuts!!!! 8.25mill cap hit for 8 years. That is going to cripple Anaheim. So Perry is probably going to want 9.0 mill for 8 years seeing he was an MVP & his linemate got 8.25mill. How many years will it take for that contract to become an albatross? No thanks, let the Oilers or Canucks sign Perry for that kind of money. To me, 8 year deal should have gotten a discount to at least 6.0mill per. At least you have a chance to sign other players that might help you get to a Cup final.

Mostly agree. Thinking 7 per year over 8 would have been more than fair. At these prices, the Flames will never get a 1C.

Backlund with the team and is on the ice in a red Jersey this morning too.

Good to hear he's close to ready. The Herald is reporting that tonight's lineup does not include Baertschi, and that someone has to be sent down to Abbotsford before Backlund can play. Did the Flames even take Baertschi to Anaheim?

Ducks had little leverage and looking at free agent centers coming up this offseason it was basically Getzlaf and nobody. Someone was going to give Getzlaf that money... the Ducks just decided they would rather it be them.

Mostly agree. Thinking 7 per year over 8 would have been more than fair. At these prices, the Flames will never get a 1C.

Even at 7.0 mill with a declining Cap is going to severely handcuff the teams cap structure. Getlaff had a terrible year last year, I know, had him in a hockey pool. His numbers are only going to digress as he gets into his 30's. Well we for sure wont be able to afford a #1 C if we are going to continue to pay Cammi 6.0mill, Iggy 7.0 mill, JBO 6.68mill, Wideman 5.3mill. Add kippers 5.8mill & theres half of next years cap payroll.

According to Vicki Hall Sven wasn't on the ice this morning for the pre-game skate. My guess is he is sent down this week at some point, and I'm fine with that if it means he is playing and getting his confidence built up. I think even if he is sent down we will see him again this season.

Backs is out of the yellow jersey? Excellent! But yes Baertschi will probably end up back in Abbotsford... better he play 20 a night there then 5 here so good on them. I imagine he'll (Backlund) slot in with Tanguay and Cammy leaving Comeau to center the 4th line.

We're all talking about how Sven is looking good and more confident out their, they put him on the pp for 20 seconds. Next thing we know hes sitting on the bench with the 4th line. Now apparently sitting out? Come on Hartley, Comeau is a plug...

Look to Hartley's work with a young Tanguay for a preview of what he is doing with Sven. We'll see how it goes. He is very up and down as expected but the win-now mentality is not willing to give him ice Better on the farm (sadly).

Abbotsford need the help, send Sven down and give him some serious playing time. Nothing better for your confidence than putting a few in the back of the net. Sven isn't getting the ice time or playing in situations with the big club that will further his development.

Abbotsford need the help, send Sven down and give him some serious playing time. Nothing better for your confidence than putting a few in the back of the net. Sven isn't getting the ice time or playing in situations with the big club that will further his development.

this. Think of the experience Sven will get being a huge part of a mediocre team rather than a small part of a mediocre team. You have to think that Sven's presence will help the other guys down in Abbotsford, giving them a legitimate offensive threat.

Hartley is a bit puzzling to me. He seems to have figured out his top 6 on the defensive side and opted to sideline both Babchuck and Sarich. On the other hand he keeps rewarding Comeau, Begin and McGrattan, over Baertschi. While he obviously has a philosophical leaning toward grit and physical play that Begin brings (and McGrattan I guess, even though he has challenges playing hockey) I just don't understand his preference of Comeau over Sven. Puzzling what he sees in this guy.
I hope he can turn the Comeau project into something more useful.

Have you ever asked yourself, "what if MacGratton scores, and Iginla gets in a fight"? I'm so confused!
Man, i admit it, this team has me all screwed up in the head.
Are we any good? Or not? For gods sake please just tell me the truth. Quit toying with me!!!!

And a big HAH! at the Oilers. I thought this was their year, or at least they were going to rocket up the standings past the Flames. They really need a goalie. Or a defense that can stop freakin' Nashville.